Virtual Pie Camp Help Needed
Once upon a time, there was a girl who liked to bake. She especially liked to bake pie. She liked to bake pie so much, that she wanted to show others how to do it. She did this for eleven years teaching over 4000 people in cities across the country and in Europe, and also at her home. Then came the day when she could no longer share pie making like she used to, face to face with people who wanted to learn. She thought, “I can do this digitally! Every body is doing it so it can’t be that hard.” But, she is finding it to be much harder to figure out than she thought, or maybe she just doesn’t have the aptitude for it. All she wants to do is continue to share pie making with others (and hopefully bring in some income) but she is having one heck of a time figuring this out.
Now, she..which by now you have figured out is me. I’ve just spent days writing up Virtual Pie Camp session descriptions, picking recipes, writing up ingredient and equipment lists, picking dates that will start in May hopefully… which would give virtual pie campers enough lead time to gather ingredients that might be needed.
But today…well today, my friends, I had an absolute meltdown when trying to navigate Zoom Meetings vs Webinars, or a secret group on Facebook, and how to manage registrations and passwords and Paypal, and, and, and…well I’m a little beside myself right now because all I truly want to do is to share pie making with you and I feel like I am a hamster on a digital wheel that is going around and around and around.
It’s hard for me to ask for help, but that is exactly what I need right now. So here I go.
Is there a skilled person out there who loves pie, and could help me do the set up and back end of this? If so, I can trade virtual pie camp sessions for helping me. Is this too much to ask?
Love,
Kate
Pie Angel
Awww I’m sorry!I wish I knew anything about the things you’re having a hard time with. I’m pestering my husband to see if he knows anything about these things, and he doesn’t. I’m sure you’ll find someone to help you in no time 💜 all the best from Shepherdstown, WV
Thanks for your good thoughts, Jennifer!
Jennifer! I’m near you in Winchester, VA! Happy pie baking!
Kate,
I’ve reached out to a techie friend and he suggested Paid Webinars and “clickmeeting.com” or “eventbrite.com”
Maybe you’ve already looked at these sites. I’ll take a look too to see how easy they are to set up. Have faith. We’ll get this to work!
Hi Kate,
I’m sure you are receiving a lot of responses to your ‘Help’ email. I can emphasize with you especially if you have never done this type of thing before. First, let me say I have your book on the Art of the Pie and love it. My daughter-in-law won’t come to visit unless I make her an apple pie!
Zoom is actually very straight forward to use and has the ability to invite only certain people to the meeting and restrict others via passwords and other protections. The nice thing about Zoom is that you can interact with the other participants and they can ask questions and they can see you and you see them via webcams.
You can probably add a Paypal ‘Buy Now’ button to your website for people to purchase your class and that will give you their email address for you to invite them to a class on Zoom.
Those are a couple of initial thoughts. If you haven’t linked up with someone else yet please send me an email and I can give you my phone number. I’m not a professional IT person but I’ve used Zoom and Paypal enough that I think I can get this working for you.
KATE! I can help! And I would love nothing better than to help you! I have supported lawyers and their support staffs all over the country with their technology needs for more than 30 years, all remotely, including legal case management, webinars, email notifications, messaging and blogs, etc. I can offer you a number of references who I have worked closely with to meet their technology needs, who have trusted me (and whose hands I have held while training them.)
Email me or call me tomorrow if you’re interested in my knowledge and experience!
I sincerely hope to hear from you!
Sandy Bautch
(956) 249-1226
I’ve used zoom. You only get 40 minutes if you do the free version and there is a limited group of people. So you really have to buy it You would control the meeting. You get everyone’s email send the a user # and a password. Time is unlimited. It’s pretty easy to use actually but not free. I don’t know about PayPal sorry
I don’t have an answer for you but possibly my friend who is a speaker and is going to be doing some things from her home but having help with the technical stuff done by a person in another city. What is the best way for me to get you in touch with her to see if her techie person can help you too? I will copy this to her so that she knows what I am suggesting.
Good Luck!
Katie
I can help with zoom. I’m sure you’ll get lots of offers, if you need me – let me know.
I don’t want you to be discouraged because you have a great idea, your website is really good and with your skill and long history of doing this, you will be successful. I am praying that God sends you the help you need soon because I’m excited to get started. I copied your website and request for help to my Facebook page.
Kate….. I would absolutely help you if I could. I’m afraid the technology world has taken off without me….. I know just enough to keep me up with friends and family on Facebook and emails. What exactly are you looking for?
the best way to do this is for you to set up a website and then put in a variety of options for people to choose from. I can send you examples of what other people are doing. Having a graphic designer set it up can make it attractive and inviting. I suggest hiring a professional for the work. Make sure your contract has a clause in it for maintenance and if possible have them teach you how to add things, work out bugs eventually…I enjoy your book so much and love to pick it up when i’m having a blue moment. Good luck!
Hi Kate,
I did some work for a online photography education platform, so I know at least some of the options – maybe I can help! Drop me an email – I love your books and pies, I would love to help.
Perhaps the simplest way is to have a members-only facebook group (so you don’t have to think about passwords and log-ins). Have them provide their facebook URL/user ID so that when they request to be added to the group, you can verify it.
Alternatively, patreon.com provides streaming options, and also has paid levels so you wouldn’t need to administer as much personally. I haven’t used it, but have heard good things.
Hi Kate,
I did some work for a online photography education platform, so I know at least some of the options – maybe I can help! Drop me an email – I love your books and pies, I would love to help.
Perhaps the simplest way is to have a members-only facebook group (so you don’t have to think about passwords and log-ins). Have them provide their facebook URL/user ID so that when they request to be added to the group, you can verify it.
Alternatively, patreon.com provides streaming options, and also has paid levels so you wouldn’t need to administer as much personally. I haven’t used it, but have heard good things.
Zoom has been working very well for all of my meetings. Have you tried zoom?
I am of no help Kate- I am challenged when it comes to Technology.
All I can offer is a hug and prayers that someone out there can help 🙏🤗.
Hugs from NJ
I can try to come up with some ideas! A few questions to help me get an idea of your vision for the classes: Do you need to see what all of your students are doing too? Or just let them see what you’re doing? Should all of the students be able to see each other too?
Kate using zoom is rather easy. I just started it myself. I can walk you through if you like.
Kate, you have done so much to help so many of us! You should always feel free to ask for help. I’m happy to help you so you can keep the pie camps going. I’m doing the same with all my other workshop hats. It looks like you have received a zillion offers of help here which is so wonderful. But please know I’m here and if you want to chat or bitch, you know how to reach me. We need your camps!! [huge heart emoji goes here]
Hi Kate!
Happy to chat with you about your requirements to see if I can help. I am a huge fan of yours and have a good handle on the tech piece.
Kate,
Mike Moreno here. This is exactly what I help folks do.
My father and close family fiends have actually taken your Pie Camp recently! They had a blast. (Dave, Carolyn, Roddie, Brian, Liz 😁)
I would love to help.
I do think Zoom is your best option at this point and even a web cam plus your phone allows for a shot of your workspace and a shot of you.
Having a simple mic will be important as well.
I would be more than happy to talk more and I’ll leave my email here in the form.
This is a great idea that will do really well now and into the future.
All the best,
Mike Moreno
I could help. I have a computer science degree and am interested in pie making. I live in Washington state and have a friend in PA. Also interested in gardening. Sounds like you have plenty of other offers by now thogh.
Hi Kate! I’m so glad you are offering Virtual Pie Camps! It’s a great idea and I loved coming in person (virtual will be great, if not *quite* the same). John and I use virtual meeting tools all the time at work, and in the past few weeks have had a crash course in a few more types since Boeing is working virtually. Between the two of us I’m sure we could get you all set up. If you still need help, feel free to send me an email or text and we’re happy to help you out!
Hola,
I can try to help, Kate. We are using Zoom now to offer all classes at Olympic College. I have been to trainings. I can send the training materials.
It doesn’t matter you have a limit of 75 only with free. You don’t have a big crowd. But of the paid version lets you have a co-host and offer polls which can be fun interactive moment.
Why is co-hosting nice? The person can be anywhere and help you. How? There is a chat button and participants can type questions and someone can answer immediately the easy questions and collect other questions to speak and share with you so you can give feedback without having to stop and read chat yourself first.
I am here for you. A promise of a slice of pie someday, a snuggle with Greta, and your company, hey, that’s all it takes!
So, if you still need some assistance, just let me know.
Hugs,
Anne
Hi Anne-
You could do an online class via zoom or Google hangouts.Both are free but hangouts is a little easier. I’m happy to explain further. My name is Laura and my mom took your class!
Laura
Laurawillis01@gmail.co.